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Serge Lutens Chergui or Serge Noir?Which is more oriental?

post #1 of 34
Thread Starter 
Just smelled both on the samples i was delivered and i am confused.i want a classic oriental perfume and i want to know which one fits better and resembles the arab guy
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post #2 of 34
Neither. I don't think I understand your odd question, anyways. From the men of arab descent I have been around, some smell like .....all kinds of fragrances. I guess it would just depend on who that person is and what they wore that day.

By the way, since when are Chergui and Serge Noir considered "...classic oriental perfume..." ?
post #3 of 34
I agree, Ambre Sultan is closer to a true oriental than either of these two.

With that said I am a massive fan of Serge Noire. I don't wear it often, but there are certain occasions where it is the only obvious choice.
post #4 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by flouris View Post

I agree, Ambre Sultan is closer to a true oriental than either of these two.

With that said I am a massive fan of Serge Noire. I don't wear it often, but there are certain occasions where it is the only obvious choice.

One thing that surprises me is how many reviews are completely disgusted by Serge Noire. I certainly did not think it was that bad. And while it is not something I want a full bottle of, it is pretty decent fragrance. I guess I was perplexed that so many people found it revolting.
post #5 of 34
Serge Noir is pretty rough.
post #6 of 34
Thread Starter 
Well the question applies to those of you women who have smelled both on a man
post #7 of 34
Thread Starter 
Well yes they are both considered oriental
post #8 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by stevolution View Post

Serge Noir is pretty rough.

You are not helping my argument !
post #9 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Surfacing View Post

One thing that surprises me is how many reviews are completely disgusted by Serge Noire. I certainly did not think it was that bad. And while it is not something I want a full bottle of, it is pretty decent fragrance. I guess I was perplexed that so many people found it revolting.

It actually surprises me too, many reviews are quite outspoken on their disgust for Serge Noire while I really like it. In fact it's by far my favourite out of the Lutens fragrances I've tried. But hey, that's just how it works...
post #10 of 34
Go with the Chergui, unless you want to smell like a homeless guys rotting feet mixed with onions.
post #11 of 34
Chergui

Serge Noir is not my tipe of f. , realy don't get it !
post #12 of 34
Both.

Chergui is a wonderful but so is Noir.
post #13 of 34
Depends on what he prefers.
post #14 of 34
I like them both but favor Chergui
post #15 of 34
They're both good.
post #16 of 34
I prefer Chergui, but both are quite good. Serge Noire may result a little harder to stomach, but you could easily fall in love with it after a few tries.
post #17 of 34
After the initial nutmeg? blast wears off, Serge Noir becomes transcendental on my skin, and lasts all day long. This fragrance surprised me by the amount of compliments it garnered. I had purchased a sample from TPC, but now I am considering a full bottle. I have not tried many SL fragrances, but -apart from MKK- this is my favorite thus far.
post #18 of 34
I also don't get the supposed nastiness that Serge Noir is supposed to possess either. Smells like a spice heavy oriental at first blast, and smooths out in about 45-60 minutes just fine. It's always smelled good to me.
post #19 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by heperd View Post

Go with the Chergui, unless you want to smell like a homeless guys rotting feet mixed with onions.

Vivid....agreed, Chergui is better.
post #20 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by heperd View Post

Go with the Chergui, unless you want to smell like a homeless guys rotting feet mixed with onions.

True!
post #21 of 34
Im trying to convince myself to try SN again..........
post #22 of 34
My first reaction when I tried Serge Noir was 'bad joke'. It actually felt sinister to me - foul, messy, just incomprehensible. I remember reading Tania Sanchez review and agreeing completely with her - a mess.

But this had happened years earlier with my first exposure to both Mouchoir de Monsieur and Mitsouoko (believe it or not) so I couldn't help but wonder - as I came to really respect and enjoy both of them. Then I noticed Diamondflame waxing eloquently about it and a year or so later I gave it a shot. Just a small spritz.

Very different. I suspect it's because I had experienced more frankincense and deep balsmasmic stuff, but I could appreciate the blast of burnt spice and herbal top and smoky, ashy base and found it quite intriguing. I haven't bought a bottle - there was a free Lutens 'tube' on offer way back with a purchase but I chose Ambre Sultan instead - I wish I had taken the SN because the 15ml would be perfect.

It's not for everyone but my take on this is that a wider exposure to other stuff made it easier for me to 'get' what is going on in SN. I like it, now - I think it's a brave, ballsy piece of work with no compromises for 'the general public' and that alone is refreshing in this day and age.

So - Diamondflame, merci mon ami
post #23 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by heperd View Post

Go with the Chergui, unless you want to smell like a homeless guys rotting feet mixed with onions.

Quote:
Originally Posted by taint it sweet View Post

Vivid....agreed, Chergui is better.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonx View Post

True!

I guess I don't want to know how and where you guys spend your time to make an association like that...
post #24 of 34
I think they'r both good. Chergui is more oriental to me but SN more "resembles the arab guy" I guess....

I think you should just go with whichever you prefer the smell of.
post #25 of 34
Chergui to my nose.
post #26 of 34
Both are great. I find Serge Noir to be a perfectly tame incense fragrance, nothing outrageous, nothing screeching, just plain comfortable and even pretty office-suitable.
post #27 of 34
From the two Chergui is the more oriental. Serge Noir is like sitting next to the fireplace on a cold, snowy winter day (it even somehow physically warms me) - not a typical arabic picture I guess.

But to "resemble the arab guy" you would need something sweeter than Chergui I presume.
post #28 of 34
I'm one of the few people on here who dislikes Chergui. I've tried it several times, but there's something about it that makes me a bit queasy. I love the burnt spices of Serge Noire, though!
post #29 of 34
Serge Noir is one of the most horrible things I've ever smelled.
Chergui is lovely though...
post #30 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Surfacing View Post

One thing that surprises me is how many reviews are completely disgusted by Serge Noire. I certainly did not think it was that bad. And while it is not something I want a full bottle of, it is pretty decent fragrance. I guess I was perplexed that so many people found it revolting.

It probably has something to do with Turin/Sanchez's bashing of it. While I do think it has a harsh, bitter quality, I find it appealing in certain situations, and I have gotten a lot of compliments on it. I think it is one of the few SL that can be worn at night in the blistering heat and humidity. It is my next-to-last Lutens based on frequency of use (least used being Douce Amere) so maybe that does rate it lower in my book, but it's not god awful by any means.
post #31 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by pistola View Post

..........i want a classic oriental perfume and i want to know which one fits better and resembles the arab guy more

Serge Lutens has made a lot of orientals but you might as well try these first. All of them are based on the classical orientalist style:

Chergui
Ambre Sultan
Fumerie Turque
Arabie
Borneo 1834
post #32 of 34
I wouldn't consider either Chergui or Serge Noir to be orientals, and I'd best most basenoters would agree.

Chergui smells miles better than Serge Noir to my nose. I'm not disgusted by Serge Noir (it's not in the same league as Musc Kublai Khan), but don't much care for it.

I think all of Pluran's suggestions in the post above mine are worth a sniff. That's a good selection.
post #33 of 34
Thanks Mr R, for your kind words. I guess Serge Noire is something of an acquired taste. Not everybody gets it. But that's ok, really. If everybody likes it, it would'nt be 'niche' anymore, would it?
post #34 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonyprince View Post

I'm one of the few people on here who dislikes Chergui. I've tried it several times, but there's something about it that makes me a bit queasy. I love the burnt spices of Serge Noire, though!

I'm not a fan either. It is raspy, powdery, and synthetic to me. Almost reminds me of someone inhaling a tablespoon of baby powder and then coughing while sitting next to a bucket of dry amber smelling solvent. I can stand it once it's into the dry down, but before that I don't like it.

I've never smelled Serge Noir so I can't really compare the two. My next order from aedes will include a sample of it though and I'll update if this thread is still alive.
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